Joyce Bernal has made a ton of movies, but in this latest offering I see nothing a new film school grad could not produce given some funding. I see more direction watching a run of the mill TV drama anthology on the Filipino channel, than in this 100 minute picture. Why not give a chance to new directors who may actually contribute to a better film industry. We keep seeing the same sorry product being churned out by the same sorry production companies and same sorry directors. It's a shame because there is a story to be told in movies like Paano Kita Iibigin, but the message gets lost by a fumbling director such as Bernal. I have only seen a handful of Films from the Philippines in the last 10 years, but what's the point when there is no progress, there is no advancement of the art. Because in the end we are talking about a form of art.I wonder if Bernal even remembers what art is about?
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alijuly1st11 June 2007Oh well, finally, I was able to watch the latest much-hyped Star Cinema release, Paano Kita Iibigin. I actually watched two movies that day, Knocked Up and Paano, but I purposely watched Knocked Up first because I want to focus more on the latter. The reason being, is I must say that I'm quite impressed at how Paano generated reactions from other movie review websites. I'm glad that people, are now responding to the quality of movies they are presented, which is what we, as moviegoers should do, because this movies, foreign and local, should, in the first place cause a reaction, stir up discussions and open up debates.
Anyway, going back, I must say that I really kept an open mind and got rid of any biases or predispositions towards the usual comment that Pinoy movies are always sub-par and copycats of Hollywood movies. Well, sadly, my 2 hour experience watching the film just reinforced that belief.
The weakness of the film is the screenplay. It just wasn't good enough. True, there were elements of Jerry Maquire in the film but, if you're going to copy a good film, why just not go all the way and copy all it's good elements. But, this film tried its darndest effort to keep away so it won't be accused of being a copy cat that it just didn't make sense.
For example, I really think it's Lance's fault why his wife died. He's supposed to be rich, educated, some President or whatever of an airline company, but he's just too STUPID to DRINK and DRIVE! C'mon! No wonder they got into an accident, why the hell can't they drink on a restaurant or a bar, or even where they had the wedding. Sure, some would argue, they were celebrating, but, jeez! To use the accident which causes his wife's death as the inciting incident as to why Lance becomes miserable and suicidal, ruining his life and wasting all his money so that he could find refuge in the beach resort he owns, which so happens the same resort that Martee will be vacationing, so they can meet and fall in love, blah, blah, is just so freakin' SHALLOW AND CONTRIVED!! Can't they think of anything more believable? The thing is they have a problematic script in the beginning with weak conflicts yet they still pursued it so they could give in to the Piolo-Regine team-up. That is mostly the problem with Pinoy movies, they write scripts tailored for its stars, not prioritizing the story.
I must commend the acting, though, it's the only good point of the movie, Piolo Pascual has range and sensitivity. As for Regine, she was good here, and please, stop with the "cutesy" mannerisms, she's supposed to be in character, not the Regine Velazquez songbird, show host or whatever she is in real life.
As for Eugene, she wasn't really that good here as what most people say, I like her better in other movies like, D'Lucky Ones. If she's gonna be the comic relief (which she's always is), she's better off with being over-the-top.
Another thing they could've done is edited the movie more. I was surprised that Joyce Bernal, being an editor before she ventured in directing, didn't utilize her talent and expertise in that field. Take for example that scene where Lance went to Manila and he's saying goodbye to Martee (what a name!). It just didn't work for me! The fading out of the truck as it leaves suggest time passing for a long time, or impending doom, but after that scene, we cut to Lance being in Manila to talk to his brother. OK fine, there was an impending doom, but, it's not just plausible for Lance's dead wife's relatives, who's dead for one year, still mad at Lance for not apologizing. I mean, it was said that they waited for Lance to come out of his coma, but in the opening scene we see Lance in his race car all waken up, why didn't he talk to them during that time?!
That goodbye scene between Lance and Martee would've been effective if after the truck faded away, we cut to six months later without any explanation. Because sometimes, things are better left unsaid to give your viewers thinking time and be absorbed with the movie. The problem with this movie is they try to explain to much, as in, telling the audience what they feel and mean. C'mon, don't treat your audience as stupid, always treat them as intelligent because they are!
That monologue between Lance and Martee towards the end, is what just made it too unbearable. It's just too MELODRAMATIC! I just don't buy all that verbal exchanges crap they said. It's emotional blackmail, to make you cry so you would say, "Oh, what a movie!" Please!! Anyway, the reason why I mentioned Knocked Up is because I think, even this is a Hollywood movie, Paano is in the same level for both this movie is character and story driven, no CGI or any special effects, just a plain good old story with characters we're supposed to care about. But, sadly, the Pinoy film ends up very unsatisfying in this one. So, be sure to catch Knocked Up when it opens, it's a delightful, charming and sweet film. -
jemps91813 June 2007Regine Velasquez plays unwed mother and ex-call center agent Martee, who becomes the accidental manager at a provincial resort owned by the self-destructing Lance (Piolo Pascual), who continues to grieve the loss of his wife (Iya Villania); the usual spats before they eventually hook up, endure the usual soul-searching period, and the requisite Pinoy ending.
I don't understand why some people say Regine and Piolo have great chemistry because she looks like his tita. The unkind close-ups were also very telling of all her cosmetic surgery that detracted our focus from the thin plot. It's not entirely her fault; the make-up work on both Regine and Piolo were at times shoddy, with Regine's foundation too white and unblended at the hairline, her eyelash extensions distracting, and Piolo's foundation and "head wound" looking too obvious despite the low-key lighting.
One thing I'm grateful for: Regine did not have a real singing portion (typical role for singer-actors). Piolo also delivered on his job as requisite eye candy. Comedienne Eugene Domingo played a key supporting role and was the only one who really enabled me to endure the film (sans shirtless Piolo scenes) with her wonderful comic timing and acerbic humor. Incredibly annoying was child actor Quintin Alianza, who played Martee's son Liam. His grating voice and acting was OA and unnatural. His contrived acting and frequent glimpses at the camera was irritating.
The sound effects also needs improvement; Martee and Lance's nightswimming sounded like someone swishing water in a metal batya. The barking dog sounded canned as well. The musical scoring was also clumsily handled.
The cinematography was forgettable; director Joyce Bernal did not have any particularly memorable scenes: Piolo's solo ruminations and the love scenes looked uncomfortably staged with no real motivation. The one hour and 40 mins Paano Kita Iibigin took was indulgent; it could use tighter editing.
Watching Paano Kita Iibigin was my good deed for the day, accompanying a fanatic friend :oP It wasn't excruciatingly bad, and it wasn't fantastic either, but it was a welcome break from the frenzied pace of back-to-back blockbuster season. -
robin_a-130 March 2008I just watched this movie expecting a quality movie. It features some of the Philippines' biggest stars. Sadly, I was so terribly disappointed. It was terrible. I was trying to find some saving grace to this film other than it having a number of stars who I am fond of, sadly, I couldn't find any. The story first of all was so contrived. Its build up was so sloppily done that it failed to substantiate the emotions it was trying to evoke. The last 10 to 15 minutes was particularly excruciating. It was one long continuous over-over-over-melodramatic sequence of crying backed up by the most uncreative and inane musical scoring I have ever heard. Endless minutes of the lead actor crying, followed by the lead actress crying with him, then she crying on her own, then him crying again...and the ping pong of crying scenes between the two just went on and on. I was wondering what was the point of all of that. If that was an attempt to arouse sympathy for the characters it failed miserably. The only emotion it aroused in me was intense disdain for the director and the musical director. Imagine watching a 15minute poorly produced music video featuring people crying and crying, with really really poor instrumental music that just repeated and repeated.
I pity Regine and Piolo, and the ultra talented Eugene Domingo! I can't imagine that people of their creative stature took part in such a monumental piece of garbage. Sorry if anyone is offended by this review, but you have offended your audience!
No wonder the Philippine movie industry is dying. They make trash like this and hype it! Geez